
Paul Geneau, president of the Canadian Association of Optometrists, told CTVNews.ca in a telephone interview from Ottawa.

Hopefully there's an accurate prescription, but those are questions that are not always being answered," Dr.
Firmoo glasses first pair professional#
If you've logged on to Facebook lately, you've likely spotted Clearly Contacts' 'First Pair Free' campaign, which was launched to attract customers that may be wary of purchasing prescription eyewear online.īut optometrists say a number of online vendors are not following the same checks and balances that a licensed professional would follow, and the product that you order online isn't always what's prescribed. Meanwhile, trendy glasses designer Warby Parker offers a "home try-on" service that covers the shipping cost of five sample frames so customers can give them a try before making a final decision.Ĭanada's largest online glasses retailer, British Columbia-based Clearly Contacts, estimates that prescription glasses that run for $400 in optical stores can be purchased for $38 to $198 on their website. offers a try-on tool through its mobile app that uses your device’s camera to create a 3D model of your face to virtually view frames from any angle. Indeed, online retailers have made it easier for consumers to purchase what has traditionally been a highly customized product with a few simple clicks. There are no recent Canadian statistics but, anecdotally, it seems Canadians are increasingly looking online when it comes to shopping for their new prescription glasses. In less than a decade, the prevalence of buying prescription eyeglasses online has exploded, with the number Americans that have their glasses delivered directly to their door growing at more than 10 per cent per year since 2007.

Purchasing eyewear is increasingly moving from optometrist and optician offices to the Internet, as a growing number of online retailers offer prescription glasses for a fraction of in-store prices.īut Canadian optometrists are raising concerns about a lack of oversight linked to online glasses, and warn that eyewear that is manufactured or fitted improperly could lead to eyestrain, double vision, or headaches.
